Nairobi: Posta Kenya workers have downed their tools to protest the non-payment of their salaries and the non-remittance of statutory deductions by their employer for the last six months. The Central Region branch Secretary of the Communication Workers Union of Kenya (COWU), Solomon Shikanda, stated that the workers will continue to paralyze all operations at the Postal Corporation of Kenya until their salary arrears are fully paid.
According to Kenya News Agency, the strike ensued after the expiration of a strike notice issued by the Communication Workers Union over a month ago, urging the government to settle the Sh 1.5 billion debt owed to workers. Last week, COWU Secretary General Benson Okwaro gave the government until October 26 to settle the arrears, failing which they would initiate the strike starting October 27.
Shikanda highlighted that the persistent salary delays have caused significant hardship for the Posta workers, with many experiencing stress and depression. 'It is not easy for anyone to remain afloat without a salary under the current harsh economic times. We have taken up debts everywhere, and our debtors are running out of patience with us. Rent for our staff is in arrears, feeding ourselves is a challenge, and those of us with children in universities have been forced to ask them to defer their studies,' he explained.
The Central Region branch Secretary emphasized that the workers are prepared to call off the strike once their grievances are addressed by the corporation. He urged the government to pursue debts owed to the corporation by other government agencies to clear their salary arrears. 'Huduma Centre owes us Sh 1.6 billion in rent arrears dating back to 2013. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission also owes us some Sh 400 million for transporting election material during the 2022 general elections. If you sum up the two debts, that money is enough to clear our salary arrears and to pay our salaries for another year,' stated Shikanda.
'We are just fighting for our salaries. We are not even demanding a pay rise, and according to labour laws, these are basic rights,' he added.